Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22
AWAKENED LOVE-
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.LA

Stately as q lily, beautiful as a ross, modest
as a violet, was Ethne, daughter OF Great
Norimond, king Of the Franks Sole heare9
Of her fathers domain, she had been taught
as beftted a powerful monarchs daughter.
No brighter eye flashed responsive to noble
deed, no tenderer heart wept over knights
wounds, no more daring huntress hasted to
| the chase, no maiden in all her train was a.
skilled at the embroidery frame as she.
But her heart was ice. This beautiful
being, who could pity the squires msnap'
had no mercy upon the noble knights wnose
hearts she had pierced by her glances
Right well did King Florimond like to keep
his daughter to himself. and it was with
scarce concealed joy that he saw sutton after
sutton depart from his court with de]ec1ed
mien and downcast head. But it came to
pass, as he grew older, his ministers began to
consider that there must be some ruler capa-
bic of holding the turbulent princes OF inc
provinces in subsection. So they petitioned
Florimond to select from the princes, who
every day besought Ethne's favor, one who
should become her consort
Florimond knew that his daughter must
wed one whom he should adopt ere she could
sit upon bis throne; so, With a great sigh, ne
prepared to give up his darling to another.
But when he broached the matter to Ethne
she looked at him reproachfully, and asked:
sand hast thou tired of me, my father"
mo, no." answered he, fright sore would
it grieve me to find thy heart held me second;
yet thou knowest I am waxing to the end,
and I fain would see thee happy ere I 60"
Then Ethne chung to him. shuddering, as
strong young natures will, at thought OF
death, and bade him not namet the ugly word,
it wrung her heart; and said did he wish her
to marry, she would, not that her heart could
be won by prince or duke-no, no; but only
to please her dear father.
The king smiled, for he was a shrewd old
fellow, and know a wonnan's heart, or thought
he did, and when she asked that she might
make her own choice, he laughed in bis beard. I
But he readily promised, and royal courtiers
were dispatched to the east and the west, and
the north and the south, to announce that the |
Princess Ethne had at last agreed to wed.
Great was the rejoicing, and for a space all
thoughts of war left even the most puissant
warriors head, and IN their stead came dreams
Of love and ambition and the beautiful Ethne. |
To every prince had como a most faithful
of the kings daughter, and many
man, as he gazed upon the dazzling counter
felt, felt that he would gladly barter bis soul
to possess the real.
Be sure the princess had gazed upon the
portraits of her fathers most renowned vas
sails, but il any among them had stirred her
heart none knew it, not even her faithful
maid, Grunelle. She hunted and rode and
played her harp and worked her tapestry
with serene mien, and hung over her father
with tender ministration; but prince after
prince rode away from the palace more than
ever the beautiful Ethne's slave, further than
sver from Florimond's throne.
Then Florimond began to wax a little
as the best of men will when they find
themselves thwarted by a woman's obstinacy,
md he swore by the bones of his forefatbers
hat he would give a six laws tournament. to